Sharon Keast

Sharon Lee Keast, the oldest of seven children of William Frank Zentmire and Norma Jean (Turner) Zentmire, was born on December 18, 1940 in Mexico, Missouri. Sharon moved with her parents and sister to Oakland, Iowa in 1945. She attended school and graduated from the Oakland High School in 1958. While in high school, Sharon enjoyed being a 4-H member and teaching baton. In 1959, she enrolled in the Jennie Edmundson School of Nursing in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Sharon and Darwin Eugene Keast were married at the Oakland United Methodist Church on July 10, 1960. They made their home in Council Bluffs and their marriage was blessed with three children, Mark David, Janet Lee, and Susan Diane. Sharon put her nursing on hold while she stayed home to care for her children. She later returned and in 1971, graduated from the Jennie Edmundson School as a Registered Nurse. Sharon began working as an obstetrics nurse at Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs and continued for 24 years. She was the first Lamaze Childbirth instructor in the Council Bluffs area and taught Lamaze classes for 20 years. Sharon retired in 2002.
Sharon was a member of the Broadway United Methodist Church in Council Bluffs. She enjoyed camping and being a Cub Scout leader, reading, sewing, crafts, and the Christmas Season. Sharon and Darwin enjoyed square dancing, playing Scrabble, and especially enjoyed time with their family and grandchildren.
Sharon died following a lengthy battle with cancer on July 29, 2006 at the Clarkson Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska. She had attained the age of 65 years, 7 months, and 11 days. She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Norma Zentmire and father and mother-in-law, Leland David Keast and Violet Doris Keast.
Sharon is survived by her husband, Darwin Keast of Council Bluffs; children, Mark Keast of Carson, Janet Bell and husband Scott and their children Ben, Spencer, and Jacob, and Susan Law and husband Derek and their children Jayden and Jocelyn, all of Council Bluffs; sisters, Sally Bauer and husband Don of Greeley, Colorado, Jeanne Bates and husband Larry of Omaha, Nebraska, Carol Brockman and husband Harold of Seymour, Indiana and Nancy Augustine and husband Mark of Parker, Colorado; brothers Steven Zentmire and wife Carol of Havre, Montana and Brian Zentmire and wife Jinetta of Estes Park, Colorado; an aunt, Ruth Richter and husband Don of Atlantic, Iowa; nieces, nephews, cousins, and many friends.